Compositions and methods for resisting soil erosion and fire retardation

Abstract

Compositions and methods for concomitantly resisting fire and soil erosion. The compositions comprise an aqueous mixture of a polymer mixed with an organic material. The polymer preferably comprises polyacrylamide or a copolymer of polyacrylamide having anionic functional groups. The organic material comprises either cellulose, mulch and/or seed and mulch. The methods of the present invention comprise providing or forming an aqueous mixture of the compositions of the present invention and applying them to an area of land sought to be provided with soil erosion and/or fire resistant properties.

1. A method for concomitantly reducing soil erosion from and imparting fire-resistance to an area of land comprising having vegetation growing thereon the steps:
 a) providing a copolymer of linear polyacrylamide and sodium acrylate; 
 b) providing between 1,000 to 4,000 pounds of an organic material selected from a group consisting of paper mulch, wood fiber mulch, and cellulose; 
 c) providing between 3,000 to 7,000 gallons of water; 
 d) mixing said water in step c) with said copolymer in step a) to form a first admixture; 
 e) mixing the admixture of step d) with said organic matter in step b) such that a second admixture is formed wherein said copolymer is present in an amount from 0.25% up to 5.00% by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material; and 
 f) applying said admixture in step e) to said vegetation present on said area of land, said area of land having a size ranging from one-half acre to one acre and a slope gradient ranging from 6:1 to 1:1. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein in step c), between 3,000 to 6,000 gallons of water are provided. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein step f) is accomplished via hydroseeding or aerial application. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein in step e), said copolymer is present in an amount between 1.25% to 5.00% by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material. 
     
     
       5. A method for concomitantly reducing soil erosion from and imparting fire-resistance to an area of land having vegetation growing thereon comprising the steps:
 a) providing a linear polyacrylamide copolymer; 
 b) providing an organic material selected from a group consisting of paper mulch, wood fiber mulch, and cellulose; 
 c) providing water; 
 d) mixing said water in step c) with said copolymer in step a) to form a first admixture; 
 e) mixing the admixture of step d) with said organic matter in step b) such that a second admixture is formed wherein:
 i) said copolymer is present in an amount between 0.25% to 5.00% by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material; and 
 ii) the ratio of water to the weight of the organic material ranges from approximately 1,000 to 4,000 pounds of organic material to 3,000 to 7,000 gallons of water; and 
 
 f) applying said admixture in step e) to said vegetation present on said area of land, said area of land having a size ranging from one-half acre to one acre and a slope gradient ranging from 6:1 to 1:1. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein in step c), between 3,000 to 6,000 gallons of water are provided. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein step f) is accomplished via hydroseeding or aerial application. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5  wherein in step e), said copolymer is present in an amount between 1.25% to 5.00% by weight of the combined weight of said copolymer and said organic material.